In the last major test for the USF men's basketball team before American Conference play begins, the Bulls hung around with 16th-ranked Alabama but could never get close enough as the Crimson Tide earned a 104-93 win on Wednesday night in Tuscaloosa.
The loss dropped USF to 6-5 overall, with games against UMBC and Georgia College & State remaining before the Bulls open conference play against UAB on January 4.
"Credit to Alabama. They obviously beat us in multiple ways. They did a great job. Obviously Coach (Nate) Oats put a major emphasis on the offensive glass. They had 16 of them at halftime, which stifled us a little bit," USF coach Bryan Hodgson said.
"We knew that they were going to do that. I told my guys they were going to come out and hit an offensive glass, and they did. And, you know, I thought had we held them, kept them off the offensive glass, we could have gone into the locker room at halftime with a lead. But we didn't, and they did a great job.
The Bulls were within 11 points with 3:33 to play before Alabama squelched the threat and built its lead back to 15. Still, there were bright spots for the Bulls in the hostile environment against the best team they are likely to see in the regular-season.
Forward Izayiah Nelson led USF with 25 points, 12 rebounds, two blocks, and three steals. Wes Enis and Josh Omojafo each 20 points.
"Alabama's a good team. Obviously, Coach Oats has been phenomenal in his tenure here and is going to continue to do so. We knew we had our work cut out for us. That's why we play these games. And we just got some work to do before we move on," Hodgson said.
The Bulls out-rebounded 'Bama overall 46-45, and after allowing those 16 offensive boards in the first half, they held the Tide to only four in the second half. But Alabama had a 20-point edge in bench points. That ultimately spelled the difference.
"Obviously, Izayiah Nelsonplayed a big part in (the offensive rebounding), with seven Tristan Beckford in limited minutes, having four. But it's kind of who we are, our identity, and who we want to be," Hodgson said.
He added taht defensive lapses at times hurt his team.
"We didn't do a great job in our ball screen coverage. We messed that up three to four possessions in a row," Hodgson said. "You know, I told our guys, they've got one of the best backcourts in college basketball. I mean, Labaron (Philon) is an an NBA guy, and (Aden) Holloway's a really good player. You know, (Latrell) Wrightsell is a really good player.
"So you mess your ball screen coverage up on those guys, they're going to make you pay. And that's what happened."